Mind Dependency on Vocational Skills

Abstract

In this paper attention is drawn to the political, moral and social importance attached to the concept of skills. It is argued that the concept of skills is not univocal, but that they are mind-dependent in ways crucial for teaching practice. It is suggested that Tanzania Vocational Education and Training (VET) policy requires emendation in the light of obscurities in the concept of skills. A number of theories of learning also are examined to suggest that skills acquisition is complex and cyclic, rather than linear and modular as in behaviourist orientated competency-based training approaches. Some ethical implications of certain approaches to Vocational Education and Training (VET) are identified. The paper primarily is concerned with the acquisition of vocational skills- such as in the industrial trade, and professional skills - such as in teaching, but has implications for education and training in many fields.

Key Words: mind-dependency, vocational training and univocal